Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa) has made big achievements in the fields of electricity, water and natural gas and significant progress on similar other ongoing projects during 2001.

The installation of two desalination units with installed capacity each of five million gallons per day at Layyah power station was completed last year. The two units of multieffect desalination (MED) were commissioned in July and August, 2001, respectively.

According to a Sewa publication, the total cost of these MED units was Dh170 million. With the installation of these units, the total desalination capacity of Layyah power station has increased to 37.5 million gallons per day.

During July last year, a new Frame 9 gas turbine with installed capacity of 100 MW was commissioned. This new unit is part of phase 3 of Wasit Station Project, which covers the installation and commissioning of two gas turbines with a total installed capacity of 200 MW. The total cost of phase 3 is estimated to be Dh225 million.

A new diesel generator with an installed capacity of 800 kilowatts was commissioned at Abu Mussa station during the summer of 2001 at a cost of Dh400,000.

The other projects completed during 2001 were installation of 300 MVA transformer at the 220 KV Saja, a transmission substation, 275 MVA transformers in the 132 KV industrial-7th transmission substation, two 33 KV substations, with each substation consisting of three transformers with 10 MVA capacity each.

The other projects completed during 2001 include construction of 11.5 kilometres of 132 KV transmission cables in Sharjah, 83.23 km of 33 KV underground cables (68.5 km in Sharjah, 6.4 km in Khor Fakkan and 8.3 km in Kalba) and 127.5 km of 11/606 KV underground cables (108 km in Sharjah, 10.8 km in Khor Fakkan and 8.7 km in Kalba), and 46 km of 132 KV O/V cables laid in Sharjah.

Having completed phase 3 of the Wasit power station, Sewa has signed a contract with GE Co to proceed with phase 4 of the project. This project will cover supply, installation and commissioning of 2x100 MW Frame 9 gas turbines at a total cost of Dh210 million.

According to Sewa, the first unit is expected to be commissioned by the summer of 2003 and the second will be commissioned by the summer of 2004.

Another project under execution is the loan dispatch centre (LCD) phase 1, with an aim to cope with rapid developments of the transmission and distribution system, to control and monitor the operation and maintenance of the transmission and distribution substations, and to acquire information about the network.

The project, which will be completed within one year, consists of two parts - the civil works and construction of the centre's building at a cost of Dh5.15 million, and the installation of mechanical and electrical equipment.

Phase 2 of this project covers the supply and installation of control system (SCAD/EMS) and telecommunication equipment and adaptation works in substations at a total cost of Dh70.23 million.

Phase 3 will have a contract to supply 160 km of fibre optic cable at a cost of Dh1.3 million to link substations and stations with the control room, and excavation work and installation of the fibre optic cable at a total cost of Dh6.2 million.

Having completed phase 2 of the natural gas distribution project, phase 3 has commenced at a cost of Dh50 million. This phase will address the supply of natural gas to about 55,000 residential units and 200 commercial and industrial establishments in Sharjah city. The project is expected to be complete by April, 2003.